Setting my goals

These studies of tourist guide at include 120 osp, learning points, and each student can choose which sections they wish to do.

Choosing my study sections

At the start of my studies I'm planning on choosing the ones that are required to be able to apply to become a member of Helsinki Guides, which is an association of authorised guides in the capital of Finland. Those are: guiding service product design, working as a local guide, and guiding in a foreign language.

In addition, I'm thinking about choosing either specialist guiding or domestic tour leading. I already have experience as an international tour leader and currently I'm not interested in working as a cruise ship guide nor local guide in a destination abroad.

OFFICIALLY IN FINNISH: TUTKINNON OSAT

I am certain of these ones:

• opastuspalvelun tuotteistaminen ja toteuttaminen, 45 osp (pakollinen)

• paikallisoppaana toimiminen, 25 osp (vaaditaan Helsingin opasyhdistyksen jäsenille)

• opastaminen vieraalla kielellä, 25 osp (vaaditaan Helsingin opasyhdistyksen jäsenille)

And still a bit undecided between these two:

• erikoisoppaana toimiminen, 25 osp

• kotimaan matkanjohtajana toimiminen, 35 osp

Schedule

Usually, these studies take about one year, but according to the teachers, it can go much faster as well, if you have experience already. The record apparently has been 3 months.

I don't wish to rush with these studies, but would like to aim to finish before the summer season 2025 kicks in.

Challenges:

• Finding the time for independent studying (with a baby in tow)

How's the future looking?

I'm hoping to find a balanced solution where I could lead a few good multidestination tours as a tour leader in the Nordic region, but then fill in the gaps with day tours and local guiding closer to home.

Once I start offering guided tours of Helsinki I hope to make them as accessible and inclusive as possible for all kinds of travelers. I would like to show our capital city as a welcoming place for people representing all kinds of cultures, backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, physical disabilities, mental characteristics, families and solo travels alike.

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This might become a working document that I might update as the studies progress. Remains to be seen.